Apparel rack



Ocf. 29, 1957 R. D. HOLM 2,811,293

' APPAREL RACK Filed NOV. 10, 1953 Russell 0. Ho/m IN VEN TOR.

BY MM m United States Patent APPAREL RACK Russell D. norm, Shelley,Idaho Application November 10, 1953, Serial No. 391,240

1 Claim. (Cl. 223-111) This invention relates in general to improvementsin racks, and more specifically to an improved apparel rack.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved apparelrack which includes shelves in compartments for suitably supportinghats, coats, gloves, shoes and the like and which is also provided withmeans for suitably supporting a coat whereby it may be conveniently puton.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparel rackwhich is of extremely simple construction yet relatively rigid so as toboth be long lasting and economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparelrack which includes means for supporting a coat in position to put on,the means being relatively simply in construction and operation andbeing controllable by ones foot while standing in position for puttingthe coat on.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a front perspective view of the apparel rack which is thesubject of this invention and shows the general outline of the same, thelower portion of the standard part thereof being broken away in order toshow the connection between linkage for operating the coat holdingclamps;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure1 and shows the general arrangement of the coat holding clamps and theoperation rod for the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure2 and shows the means for adjusting the spring pressure on the operatingrod for the coat holding clamp;

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparel rack in Figure 1;and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the upperend of the apparel rack and shows the general relationship of the coatholding clamp, one of the clamps being shown by dotted lines in its coatreleasing position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated the apparel rack which is the subject of this invention, theapparel rack being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10.The apparel rack 19 includes a circular supporting base 12 which hasextending upwardly from the center thereof a hollow, rectangular crosssectional standard 14. The standard 14 has the sides thereof upwardlydecreasing in width, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Carried by the base 12 and extending upwardly from the periphery thereofis a vertical wall 16 of a container ice of which the base 12 forms abottom. The container is also bounded by a pair of rearwardly extendingstraight wall members 18 which define a foot receiving opening 20. itwill be noted that the straight walls 18 intersect the standard 14 alongadjacent junctures between adjacent sides of the standard 14. It isintended that the container of which the base 12 and the walls 16 and 18form boundaries is to receive footwear and the like.

Carried on the upper end of the standard 14 is a rack element which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 22. The rack element 22includes an intermediate portion 24 which is horizontally disposed andwhich is rigidly secured to the upper end of the standard 14. Extendingupwardly from the forward edge of the intermediate portion 24 is a'vertical flange 26. Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear edgeof the central portion 24 is an upstanding flange 28. The flange 28terminates in a rearwardly extending flange 30;

The space between the flanges 26 and 28 and overlying the intermediateportion 24 is intended to form a glove compartment. The glovecompartment is divided into two halves by a small rectangular housing 32which overlies the intermediate portion and extends transversely betweenthe flanges 26 and 28. The housing 32 directly overlies the center ofthe standard 14.

As is best illustrated in Figure 2, the flange 26 forms an integralportion of a relatively narrow inverted channel member 34 which incombination with the intermediate portion 24 forms an elongated housingwhich is referred to by the reference numeral 36.

Carried by end portions of the housing 36 are blocks 38. The blocks 38have rotatably journaled therein a shaft 40 which extends the length ofthe housing 36. Secured to opposite ends of the shaft 40 are movableclips 42. The movable clips 42 cooperate with fixed clips 44 carried bythe blocks 38 to receive a coat or other garment in position to be puton.

It will be noted that the clips 42 and 44 are retained in grippingengagement by an operating rod 46 which extends vertically through thestandard 14 and up into the housing 32. The upper end of the operatingrod 46 is pivotally connected as at 48 to a lever 50 which is secured tothe shaft 40 intermediate the blocks 38.

The operating rod 46 is retained in an uppermost position by a coilspring 52 which rests upon a transverse partition 54 disposed within thestandard 14. The upper end of the spring 52 compressively engages theunderside of a collar 56 which is carried by the operating rod 46. Itwill be noted that the collar 56 is adjustably positioned on theoperating rod 46 through the use of a lock screw 58, as is bestillustrated in Figure 3.

In order that the operating rod 46 may be selectively moved downwardlyso as to cause pivoting of the clip 42 away from the clip 44, as is bestillustrated in Figure 5, a pedal 60 is carried by the base 12 in thefoot receiving space 20. The pedal 60 has its lower end thereofpivotally connected to the base 12 by hinge 62. The upper end of thepedal 60 is provided with arm 64 which is pivotally connected to thelower end of the operating rod 46 as at 66. It will be noted that arm 64passes through a vertical slot 63 in one wall of the standard 14.

When it is desired to put on a coat or other like garment, the coat isproperly positioned with the apparel being supported between the pair ofclips 42 and 44. Then the coat is put on in the normal manner. After thecoat has been held in the desired position, the coat is then released bypressing the pedal 60 with one heel.

This causes pivoting of the clips 42 away from the clips 44 and therelease of the coat.

In addition to providing receptacles for shoes and gloves, the apparelrack is also intended to have hats supported thereon. The hats, whenplaced on the apparel rack 10, are supported by the flange 30.

Extending rearwardly from the vertical upstanding flange 28 is aplurality of elongated rods 70. The rods 70 underlie the flange '30 andare intended to'have coats supported thereon. While there has beenillustrated only one such rod 70, it will be understood that the numberof rods may be varied as desired;

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not'desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and'described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and'equ'iva'lents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim. e

'What is claimed as'new'is as follows:

An apparel rack'comprising a'base, a hollow supporting standardcarried'by said base, an apparel supportingfhead carried at the upperend of said standard; a shaft journalled I on said apparel supportinghead, spaced fixed clips secured to said apparel supporting head at theopposite edges thereof, movable clips fixedly secured to said shaft atthe ends of said shaft, an actuating rod carried by and supported withinsaid standard, a link pivotally connected to said rod and rigidlyconnected to said shaft, a spring coaxial with said rod engaging acollar on said rod and a parti tion in said standard to urge said rod toa raised position and said movable clips into engagement with said fixedclips, and a pedal hingedly carried by said base and pivotally attached.to said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS587,246 Stuart July 27, 1897 609,427 Grifiith Aug. 23, 1898 624,848McCausland May 9,1899 1,804,069 Stover May 5, 1931 2,326,064 PittmanAug. 3, 1943 2,358,118 Williams Sept. 12, 1944

